Device for repairing plastic coated bowling pins



July 10, 1962 F. E. GALLOB 3,043,175

DEVICE FOR REPAIRING PLASTIC COATED BOWLING PINS Filed April 2, 1959United States Patent 3,043,175 DEVICE FOR REPAHHNG PLASTIC QATED BQWLHNGPINS Frank E. Galloh, Golden Valley, Minn. (1149 Toledo Ave. N.,Minneapolis 22, Minn.) Filed Apr. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 803,788 3 (llaims.(Cl. 836) This invention relates to the repairing of bowling pins. Moreparticularly it relates to a method of repairing plastic coated bowlingpins the coatings of which have become worn or cracked, to a device foraccomplishing such repairs, and to the repaired bowling pin.

Plastic coated bowling pins, which consist of a hardwood core orequivalent substrate covered with a tough white plastic coating ofapproximately A inch in thickness, represent the vast majority of thebowling pins used throughout America today. They are sanctioned for usein both organized league and tournament play by the American BowlingCongress (ABC). The useful life of such pins is limited. Althoughvarying from lot to lot, many present day plastic coated bowling pinscommence to become damaged or wornafter being used in BOO-1,000 lines orsingle games of howling. Normally initial damage to the pins, throughuse, involves localized cracking or splitting of the plastic coatingover the wooden substrate in the belly portion of the pin. Causespin-setting machinery, and impact of the pins against the bowling alleyitself.

The procedures of the present invention contemplate repairing theplastic-coated pins soon after initial damage occurs.

Generally speaking, after initial rupture of the plastic coating, thedamage to a pin through use increases and spreads rather rapidly. Asthis occurs the pin is first removed from league play and used only inopen bowling. Relatively soon thereafter it must be finally withdrawnfrom use altogether. By this time the majority of such pins are absolutescrap. The remainder of such pins may be in such condition that it ispossible to send them to what might be termed a salvage and reclamationcenter. Here the pins are sorted and rebuilt by methods such as thosetaught in US. Patents Nos. 2,105,045, 2,202,675, 2,684,504 and whichillustrate the extensive steps taken to renovate damaged bowling pins.Such cutting, kerfing, and drilling, tapping and injecting operations asare described in these patents obviously are expensive, and involveprocedures, time and facilities that are beyond the scope of,and-impractical to be adopted by, the individual bowling establishmentproprietor. My observation has been that many of the pins so renovateddo not regain the customary pin action and bounce, and may not be withinthe regulation weight limits for pins sanctioned for league play.Furthermore, such pins do not enjoy a useful life equivalent to that ofthe average new pin.

Hence, many bowling alley proprietors attempt to extend pin life throughsimpler procedures, such as by the use of paste-like hardenable cementsto fill in the cracks and damaged areas of the pins. Although itrepresents the best method known to me prior to my invention, it had thedisadvantages, inter alia, of requiring considerable time and effort.Generally this hand method requires repeated application of the paste,drying, and

subsequent application of more paste to build up a layer of suificientthickness to restore the exterior of the pin to its normal contour.Frequently sanding and finishing operations are required. Even then therepaired areas often are uneven. Additionally the repairedarea on the M3,043,175 Patented July 10,1962

pin seems to pick up and retain dirt from the bowling alley more readilythan the regular plastic coating, and the pin soon presents a mottledand spotted appearance that is objectionable.

Therefore it is an objective of the present invention to provide bowlingestablishment proprietors with a practical, relatively inexpensive andnovel procedure for greatly extending the useful life or lineage oftheir plastic coated bo'wling pins.

A further objective is to provide repair means whereby the essentiallynormal con-tour of the pin is maintained, there is practically noalteration of the normal pin weight, the pin'action is retained (i.e.,the liveliness in the way the pins bounce, often qualitatively indicatedby the sound or ring of the wood when pins bounce against one another),and the pin is better appearing to the bowling customers.

Additional objectives are to provide repaired pins which haveexceptional longevity, often doubling the useful life of a new pinbefore it must be salvaged or scrapped, a novel device for easily andsimply eifecting such a repair of a plastic-coated pin, and a novelmethod for patch-repairing plastic-coated pins.

The manner in which the above mentioned and other objectives andadvantages are accomplished in accordance with the present inventionwill be apparent from the following description,'taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation partly broken away showing a preferreddevice for practicing the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section showing a portion of the assembly of thedevice of FIGURE 1; 7

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along lines 33 ofFIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are side elevations of a plasticcoated bowling pinshowing various stages of repair in accordance with the teachingshereof;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged partial section showing .an area of a pin whichhas been repaired in accordance with my invention; and

FIGURE 9. is a perspective view of a platen member which is used with mynovel device during a part of the pin reparation procedure.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 4, wherein like reference characters referto like parts in several views, an illustrative preferred device of myinvention is shown wherein base 1% is provided on the upper surfacethereof with a depression 11 conformed to the COIICOllI' of a bowlingpin. The depth of said depression is such that when a bowling pin ispositioned therein, approximately onehalf of the pin is exposed abovebase 10. Beyond one end of depression 11 a right angular mount 12 isaflixed to base 10, the upper part of said mount extending over thebelly portion of a bowling pin positioned in said depression. Preferablysaid mount is slidably positioned longitudinally with respect to thebowling pin. Thus the position of the cutting means, shortly to bedescribed, which is supported on said mount, can, by adjusting themount, be varied over the pin to be repaired; 'Movably extendingvertically through the portion of mount 12 overhanging depression ii, isreciprocal shaft 13.

To the under end of shaft 13 is a rectangular cutter '14 having a flatupper or superior surface 15 and two 16a, 17 and 17a conforms to thecontour of that portion travels.

of the belly of the bowling pin with which said cutter 14 comesintocontact when shaft 13 is moved downwardly.

The cutter 14 is removably affixed on the shaft, and preferably is notrigidlypositioned when so aflixed. Thus play exists permitting someindependent movement of Mounted about the upper end of shaft 13, so thatsaid A shaft is movable therein, is a cylindrical supporting post 20. Agenerally U-shaped bracket 21 is fastened to post 20 so thatrthe endmembers 22 and 23, respectively, of said bracket are disposedhorizontally. The bracket is afiixed to post 20 at end' member 22 bymeans of a split ring 24 affixed to end member 22, said split ringextending about'post 20. The split ring is tightened about thesupporting post by means of thumb screw 25, which extends through theend closure members of said split ring.

To the upper end portion23 of bracket 21 is pivotally fastened a handle27 by means of pin 26 about which said handle pivots. Said pin extendsthrough end por-- tion 23 directly above shaft '13. Handle 27 isprovided with a fixed angular leg 28 which extends downwardly from thepivotally-fastened end thereof, as shown. Thus when handle 27 is raisedand lowered about pin 26, leg 28 moves back and forth arcuately, thelower 'end thereof thereby moving up and down with respect to base as itA shoulder stop 29. is provided'in end member 23 of bracket 21 to limitthe downward movement of handle 27. i

A toggle link 30 is pivotally connected at one end thereof to the lowerend of leg 28 and at the other end to an adjustableconnecting assemblyafiixedto the upper end of shaft '13. It will thus be .seen that as leg28 moves arcuately in response to downward movement of handle 27, togglelink 30 forces shaft 13 downwardly until the with the cracked areauppermost.

upper end of the toggle link and leg 28 are positioned directly in .linebetween shaft 13 and pin' 26. As the handle 27Jis further moveddownwardly (leg 2i; moving 7 further in its arcuate path), the upper endof the toggle link is drawn upwardly just slightly before the upperportion of leg 28 bears against shoulder stop 29. In

' ably connected through pin 39 to sleeve 4% at connecting lug 41 whichforms the upper end of said sleeve. The latter is bored'partiallytherethrough from the bottom end thereof. Disposed inthe bore are spring42 and l the upper end of shaft 13. The spring 42 is of such length thatit 'is maintained normally under compression,

' and, hence, normally urges shaft 13 downwardly and out of sleeve 40.On one side of the upper portion thereof which extends into sleeve 40,shaft 13 is provided with a vertically extending longitudinal slot 43. Athumb screw plastic coating 52 of the pin contains many cracks 51 in thebelly region of the pin. This is the initial area of failure in bowlingpins perhaps 90% of thetime as a result of the extensive ball to pin,and pin to pin contact in this area.

To be repaired adamaged'pin is positioned in depression 11 after handle27 is raised to an upward position to move cutter 14 out of the way. Thepin is positioned Handle 27 is then lowered so that the edges definedby"walls 16, 16a, 17 and 17a of cutter 14.pass throughthe plasticcoating 52 in a continuous cut to define an enclosed area ofpredetermined dimensions and parameter, which area encompasses thedamage being repaired.

The, enclosed damaged plastic defined by the cut is then removed, forexample, by inserting a sharp instrument under one edge thereof.Significantly, I have found that usually the area readily pops right outwith but a singleefiort with theprying instrument. Apparently this isdue to the fact that the plastic coating 52 is separated from thesubstrate by the continuous pounding the pin receives during use.-Slight shrinkage of the substrate upon drying out of the pin may alsocontribute.

Upon removal of the damaged plastic portion an area of the woodensubstrate 53 is exposed, defined by edges 54 and 54a and 55 and 55a oforiginal coating 52 corresponding in size, respectively, with wallsi17,17a, 16 and 16a'of cutter 14. The exposed substrate surface is thencoated with a suitable bonding adhesive, such as Hybond type 80 contactadhesive. Then a preformed plastic insert or patch 56 (as shown in placein FIGURE 6) of the-same dimensions and parameter as those of theplastic piece removed, is inserted in the recess defined by said edges54, 54a, 55 and 55a of the remaining original plastic coat 52. Thepreformed plastic patch is preferably of about the same being repairedis inserted intodepression' 11 with the re- 44 threadably extendsthrough the side of sleeve 4t) and,

when turned up tight, seats within and bears against the surface of slot43. A i V Thus the distance which shaft 13 and cutter 14 can. movedownwardly is determined by the position of shaft 13 within sleeve 40.This position can be varied andv adjusted by loosening thumb screw 44,followed'by sliding shaft '13 to a different position with respect tosleeve 40, and then retightening said thumb screw 44.

Referring again to the drawing generally, the' r nanner in which adamaged bowling pin is repaired in accordance'with my invention, isshown. .A typical damaged pin 50 is shown in FIGURE 5 wherein an'area ofthe face of depression 11) paired area either upper-most (where it willbe contacted by platen 66) or lower-most (where it contacts the sur-Preferably the area covered by the platen is larger than the patch.After the patch has been positioned the handle 27 is lowered until theplaten 60 is forced firmly against'the pin surface. The patch is forcedfirmly into place at all points. Preferably the connecting assembly is,so adjusted that platen 60 is locked properly into position against thepin with positive pressure applied against the repaired area. It thusremains until the adhesive agent cures or'sets, thereby insuring a firmbonding of the patch to the wooden substrate.

'As can be seen, the repairing process is simplified if two of mydevices-are used, one for cutting and one for pressing. The connectingassembly of each need then be adjusted only once; and there need be noremoval or substitution of the cutter and platen.

' In addition to being shaped to the proper dimensions, the preformedplastic patch also can bepreviously molded to the desired contour of thebowling pin. The present invention lends itself equally well, however,to the use of flexible patches whichhave been simply stamped to thedesired configuration from plane, i.e., flat, sheets. The latter typehas the advantages of'being readily mass produced by conventionalstamping operations, and, hence,

'plane patches are employed, even though initially not of proper contourto conform to the pin surface, they readily conformv when the platen isbrought to bear against the pin Being so retained until the adhesivematerial has set, the patch is then firmly and permanently held inplace. In some instances it may be desirable to provide the platen 60with an internal heating element. In such instance, the platen can bebrought to bear against the patch, the latter being heat-formed to theproper contour. Of course, a suitable release material would cover thesurface of the platen where heat pressing is employed to facilitate easyseparation of the platen from the repaired pin surface.

The repaired pin resulting from my novel procedures is illustrated inFIGURE 8 wherein the plastic patch 56 is firmly adhered to woodensubstrate 53 by means of thin adhesive film. 62. Where slight excess ofadhesive is coated on substrate 53, the excess flows into any spacebetween the abutting edge of original coat 52 and patch 56. Although, ifdesired the edges of the insert can be sanded lightly, usually this isentirely unnecessary.

Pins repaired by my novel method have been returned to play andwithstood as many as 1,000 lines or more games of bowling without anyfailure of the patched area. I have found that there is essentially noalteration of the pin weight with pins thus repaired, normal pin actionis retained, and because the patch soils in the same fashion as theoriginal plastic coating (as compared with prior art paste-fillers whichare differentially disposed to soiling) a better appearing pin isprovided.

It will of course be apparent that there are obvious modifications thatcould be made of the shape of the coating-cutter here described, andsubstitutions for the preferred device described. However, it should beunderstood that such substitutions or modifications are within thespirit and scope of this invention, and that the particular formsillustrated place no limitation thereon except as defined in theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for repairing plastic coated bowling pins having adamaged area in said coating, means for holding a damaged plastic coatedpin, and means for cutting through said plastic coating around thedamaged area on a predetermined enclosed parameter, said cutting meanshaving a continuous downwardly extending cutting edge at least portionsof which are concaved, said edge defining a compoundly curved contourcorresponding to the surface at the belly portion of a bowling pin, andmeans for actuating said cutting means into a bowling pin retained bysaid holding means.

2. A device for use in repairing plastic coated bowling pins, comprisinga base having a depression in the upper surface thereof conformingessentially to the contour of the lateral portion of a bowling pin, aplaten having an under surface shaped to a compoundly curved contourcorresponding with the surface at a belly portion of a bowling pin,means for positioning said platen above said belly portion of a bowlingpin retained in said depression while permitting said platen to movetoward and away from said depression and means for moving said platentoward and away from said depression.

3. A device for repairing plastic coated bowling pins having at leastone damaged area in said coating, comprising a base having a depressionin the upper surface thereof conforming essentially to the contour ofthe lateral portion of a bowling pin, a cutter having downwardlyextending walls terminating in cutting edges, the cutting edges ofadjacent Walls adjoining to define an enclosed parameter with said edgesbeing individually concaved and being disposed collectively to define acompoundly curved contour corresponding to the surface at the bellyportion of a bowling pin, means for positioning said cutter above thebelly portion of a bowling pin retained in said depression whilepermitting said cutter to move toward and away from said depression andmeans for moving said cutter toward and away from said depression.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS265,016 Campbell Sept. 26, 1882 721,976 Stevens Mar. 3, 1903 1,884,398Uxley Oct. 25, 1932 2,189,277 Anderson Feb. 6, 1940 2,336,703 Skoog Dec.14, 1943 2,349,394 Widdis May 23, 1944 2,520,978 Super Sept. 5, 19502,535,033 Bergere Dec. 26, 1950 2,603,271 Heymers July 15, 19522,610,057 Hunt Sept. 9, 1952 2,629,596 Luedtke Feb. 24, 1953 2,653,663Maxant Sept. 29, 1953 2,855,338 Mulkey Oct. 7, 1958 2,956,611 Jendrisaket al Oct 18. 1960

